Dejected Kamala Harris says she's not seeking presidency and blames 'broken system' for putting her off running again
Harris was asked by Stephen Colbert - whose liberal talk show was recently canceled - if she was eyeing 'another office' after bowing out of contention to be governor.
'No. I don't want to go back in the system. I think it's broken,' she said in her first interview since losing to Donald Trump in the 2024 race.
Her comments appeared to shock Colbert, who pointed out 'in early polling, you beat every other candidate by double digits.
'Obviously people project onto you their hopes and dreams,' he added.
But Harris appeared downcast as she questioned the state of democracy in the United States, telling Colbert: 'I always believed that as fragile as our democracy is, our systems would be strong enough to defend our most fundamental principles.
'I think right now that they're not as strong as they need to be. I want to travel the country, I want to listen to people, I want to talk with people.
'I don't want it to be transactional where I'm asking for their vote.'
Speaking to Harris, Colbert said: 'As someone who is very qualified for the presidency, a senator, an attorney general, a vice president of the United States and then a very hopeful and dynamic presidential candidate for the 107 days that you had to run, to hear you say that it's broken, to hear you say that our systems aren't strong enough, is harrowing.
'There is almost no curse word bad enough,' Colbert said, before Harris interjected to remind him: 'It doesn't mean we give up.'
He said: 'That's what I'm hearing - like you don't wanna be part of the fight anymore.'
But Harris doubled down, insisting: 'Absolutely not. I'm always gonna be part of the fight.'
She noted she had spent her entire career 'in service of the people' and would continue to do so, but was ready to take a break from fighting from 'within the system.'
'I thought a lot about running for Governor of California. I love my state, I love my people,' she said.
Harris was promoting her upcoming memoir, '107 Days', chronicling her short presidential campaign run after then-President Joe Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed her following an embarrassing debate with Trump.
Her decision to appear on Colbert's The Late Show comes weeks after CBS cancelled the long running talk show - to the delight of Trump.
Colbert's decade-long stint as the host of The Late Show will come to an end in May after CBS canceled the program following a $16million settlement with Trump.
Trump publicly celebrated the axing, sparking theories that he was involved in the decision. He clarified on Sunday that he was not 'solely responsible.'
'Everybody is saying that I was solely responsible for the firing of Stephen Colbert from CBS, Late Night. That is not true,' he argued.
'The reason he was fired was a pure lack of TALENT, and the fact that this deficiency was costing CBS $50 Million Dollars a year in losses — And it was only going to get WORSE!'
Colbert has made no secret of his dislike of Trump. On the show which followed the cancelation announcement, he said: 'How dare you, sir? Would an untalented man be able to compose the following satirical witticism? Go f*** yourself.'
Meanwhile, Harris has kept a relatively low profile since her resounding loss to Trump in the November election, when he secured both the popular vote and the electoral college.
Many Democrats quietly suspected she would run for Governor in her home state, given current Governor Gavin Newsom will be term limited out this year.
But following months of speculation, she finally confirmed this week it would not be happening.
'In recent months, I have given serious thought to asking the people of California for the privilege to serve as their governor,' she wrote in a statement.
'I love this state, its people, and its promise. It is my home. But after deep reflection, I've decided that I will not run for governor in this electio n.
'For now, my leadership — and public service — will not be in elected office.
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